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CENTENNIAL 



OF THE 



MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



1822—1922 



CENTENNIAL 



OF THE 



MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



APRIL 11, 1922 



I. The Maine Historical Society in Bruns- 
wick, 

By President Kenneth C. M. Sills, 
OF BowDoiN College. 

II. The Maine Historical Society at Port- 
land. 

By Hon. Augustus F. Moulton, of 
Portland. 



Portland, 1922. 



Gift 
OftrMffl* latl. 

OCT 3 C 1SSB 



^! FOREWORD. 

The organization of the Maine Historical Society in 1822 
followed closely upon the separation of what was once the 
Province of Maine from what had long been known as the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In two carefully pre- 
pared papers a review of the first century of the Society's 
work is herewith presented. The meeting for this purpose 
was held at three o'clock in the afternoon of April 11, 1922, 
in the hall of the Library Building on what was once the 
Longfellow property in Portland. Although the weather 
was somewhat unfavorable, the audience was large, and 
both Dr. Sills and Mr. Moulton had deeply interested and 
most appreciative hearers. At the close of these literary 
services each speaker received a very hearty vote of thanks. 

Following this vote, and recalling an allusion in Dr. Sills' 
paper to Hon. John A. Poor's address in 1859 on "English 
Colonization in America," the president of the society, 
Dr. Burrage, said that the more he became acquainted 
with Mr. Poor's work in connection with the Maine His- 
torical Society the more he was impressed with the value 
of the services rendered by Mr. Poor. His range of vision 
naturally was limited. Very largely the sources of infor- 
mation as to the beginnings of our Maine history were not 
here then. Accordingly some of the conclusions in his his- 
torical papers would not now be accepted. But, more than 

3 



any of his associates, he seemed to be impressed with the 
value and therefore the importance of original sources in 
historical work. His papers in their footnotes show a firm 
grasp upon such sources as were within his reach. Also, 
too, Mr. Poor sought to interest the people of Maine in the 
history of their state. He was by far the most inspiring 
personality and indefatigable worker among his associates 
in the society. To him especially was due the great Pop- 
ham celebration at the mouth of the Kennebec, August 29, 
1862, the first of our memorable field-days. While the 
society then had other members of great personal worth 
and large attainments, there was only one John A. Poor, 
and we do well to honor his memory. 

Following these more formal proceedings, the members 
of the society and their guests assembled in the library 
below, where coffee and cakes were served, and where, 
among flowers and many interesting historical treasures, an 
opportunity was afforded for a social hour, with greetings 
and felicitations appropriate to the occasion. 

The second centennial of the Maine Historical Society is 
far away. May it find its members in possession of its 
historic property and of historical treasures of much greater 
interest and value than are now in the society's care ; also 
with larger opportunities for usefulness in their important 
work ! 



THE MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

IN BRUNSWICK. 

1822 -1880 



By Kenneth C. M. Sihhs, LL,. D. 

In his famous preface, Livy, the Roman histo- 
rian, tells us that in reading history everyone should 
consider these points: What life and manners were 
in ancient times; and through what men and by 
what means, both in peace and in war, empire 
was acquired and extended. He then goes on: 
" This it is which is particularly salutary and 
profitable in the study of history, that you behold 
instances of every variety of conduct displayed as 
on a conspicuous monument, that thence you may 
select for yourself and for your country that which 
you may imitate ; thence note what is shameful in 
the undertaking and shameful in the result which 
you may avoid." 

It is well to keep these precepts in mind as we 
survey, this afternoon, the origins of the Maine His- 
torical Society and its progress until it forsook the 
quiet of the college of the pines for the din of the 
Forest City. We do not, to be sure, like the 

7 



Romans, trace our august beginnings to the activ- 
ity of the gods or of Mars in particular ; but the 
society did owe its origin to that greater culture and 
greater degree of leisure which marked the passing 
of a pioneer, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
District, into the urbane and beloved state of Maine. 
Indeed, before 1820 very few works, either historical 
or literary, had been published in our state with the 
exception of sermons and occasional addresses which 
had then a very great popularity. Among the more 
notable pamphlets or essays were some evidently of 
the propagandist type designed to promote immi- 
gration into the district. There were also a few 
volumes on Maine contributed to the Massachusetts 
Historical Collections. In 1795 appeared "The 
History of Maine," by General Sullivan, a valuable 
historical work. From 1790 to 1820 there were 
naturally many pamphlets published on the subject 
of separation, but the number of books written for 
purely literary or historical purposes can easily be 
counted on the fingers of one hand. 

When Maine became a state, in 1820, her people 
very naturally desired, not only from local pride but 
also from other even more praiseworthy motives, to 
establish a reputation for interest in learning and 
culture. It is one of the excellent fruits of inde- 
pendence that a state wishing to stand by itself, as 
the name implies, is ambitious to encourage not 
only industry but literature and the arts, as a sign 

8 



that the people are able to look after their own 
higher interests. Consequently we find the first 
Legislature, which met here in the city of Portland 
in the month of May, 1820, giving grants to Bow- 
doin College and Waterville College, establishing 
the Medical School of Maine, and in general adopt- 
ing what was for those days a liberal policy toward 
education. In 182 1 the Maine Medical Society 
was incorporated. 

On February 4, 1822, a bill to incorporate the 
Maine Historical Society was passed in the House 
of Representatives, and the following day was passed 
in the Senate and signed by the governor, Albion 
K. Parris. The act of incorporation contains the 
names of forty-nine corporate members, headed by 
William Allen, then president of Bowdoin College, 
and Albion K. Parris, governor of Maine. The 
list is a roster of names famous in the history of our 
state. You may find there a Mellen, a Preble, a 
Payson, a Wingate, a Longfellow, a King, a Lincoln, 
a Vaughan, a Weston, a Carey, a Robert Hallowell 
Gardiner, a Peleg Sprague, a Packard, an Abbott, 
a Williamson, a Sewall, a Shepley and a Dana. 
The list includes three who were, at one time or 
another, chief justices of our supreme court and sev- 
eral who became federal judges. Six of the incor- 
porators later became presidents of this society: 
Albion K. Parris, William Allen, Ichabod Nichols, 
Stephen Longfellow, Prentiss Mellen and Robert 



H. Gardiner. From 1822 to 1856, without a break, 
the destinies of the society were guided by those 
who were interested in, and indeed present at, its 
birth. The second section of the act of incorpora- 
tion provided that the annual meeting of the society 
should be held at Bowdoin College on the Tuesday 
next preceding the annual commencement ; but in 
1828 this section was repealed, and the society was 
authorized to hold their annual meeting and other 
meetings at such times and places as it may think 
proper. 

The first meeting of the society was held at Port- 
land just one hundred years ago to-day, April 11, 
1822. There were present Governor Parris, Chief 
Justice Mellen, Judge Preble, the Rev. Ichabod 
Nichols, the Rev. Edward Payson, Judge Ware, the 
Rev. J. Coggswell and Edward Russell. In the 
Eastern Ar'giis, then a weekly newspaper, for April 
1 6th of that year there is a brief account of this 
meeting. It was held in the Senate Chamber (in 
other accounts the Council Chamber) and the fol- 
lowing officers were elected: President, Albion K. 
Parris, the governor of Maine ; recording secretary, 
Benjamin Hadley; corresponding secretary, Edward 
Russell; treasurer, Prentiss Mellen; librarian, the 
Rev. Edward Payson. 

At this meeting a committee was appointed to 
draw up by-laws to report at the annual meeting in 
Brunswick the next August, commencement then 

10 



being at that time of the year. The newspaper 
notice requests: "Gentlemen in possession of books, 
pamphlets and manuscripts [evidently ladies in those 
days were gallantly supposed not to be interested in 
erudition] who are disposed to place them in a situ- 
ation to be useful to the future historian, are invited 
to send them to the librarian." 

Yet august as the founding of the society was, 
with the governor its president and the chief justice 
its treasurer, in its early years it had the usual trials 
and struggles. Even less interest than is the case 
to-day was taken in historical studies. The society 
had to rely for its existence on annual assessments; 
it had no wealthy patrons and no funds for publica- 
tions. Indeed, until 183 1 the society seems to have 
had but a perfunctory existence. Yet we should 
not withhold credit from those who kept the society 
together and labored in its behalf. Governor Parris 
held the of^ce of president but one year and was 
succeeded by President William Allen, of Bowdoin 
College, who presided from 1823 until 1828. Pres- 
ident Allen was a good deal of a scholar and was 
particularly interested in philology and history. 
Graduating from Harvard College in the celebrated 
class of 1802, he was connected with that institution 
for some years, during which he published, in 1809, 
an "American Biographical and Historical Diction- 
ary." yhe third edition of this encyclopedic work, 
printed in 1837, contained more than seven thou- 

11 



sand biographical notices — a monument to the pres- 
ident's industry, if not to his discretion. 

The close connection between Bowdoin College 
and the Maine Historical Society is shown in the 
early officers. Professor Samuel P. Newman was 
corresponding secretary in 1828 and was succeeded 
in 1829 by Professor Parker Cleaveland, who held 
that office until 1858. John McKeen, who was an 
overseer of Bowdoin for many years, was treasurer 
of the Historical Society from 1836 to 1858. 
Parker Cleaveland was librarian from 1823 to 1829; 
the office was held also by Samuel P. Newman from 
1829 to 1834; by Henry W. Longfellow in 1834; 
and by Alpheus S. Packard in 1835. 

In the early period of its history the society also 
owed much to its third president, the Rev. Ichabod 
Nichols, 1828 to 1834, the very scholarly minister 
of the First Parish Church of Portland, said by 
William Willis to be "one of the best cultivated 
and universal scholars that Maine has cherished in 
her bosom," Small wonder is it, then, that the same 
historian informs us: "From excess of thought and 
the fulness of his mind his sermons often rose above 
the level of the common apprehension and often 
required close attention to follow the course of his 
reasoning and argument." But be it remembered 
those were days of the stalwart sermon tasters. 
Dr. Nichols vv^as greatly interested in the Histori- 



12 



cal Society and presided with distinction at its 
meetings. 

It was during Dr. Nichols' administration, in 
183 1, that the first volume of the Maine Historical 
Collections appeared. The book has a scholarly 
and philosophical preface from the classical pen of 
Judge Ware. "We are told," he writes, "that 
Americans love rather to tell of what they will do 
than of what they have done, and boast more of 
what their posterity will be than of what their an- 
cestors have been" ; and he goes on to analyze the 
reasons why historical research was never popular in 
a youthful nation. The main article in the volume 
is appropriately the "History of Portland from its 
First Settlement with Notices of the Neighboring 
Towns and of the Changes in Government in 
Maine," by William Willis. The volume also con- 
tains brief accounts of towns, particularly Limerick 
and Wells, some petitions of the inhabitants of 
Maine to Cromwell and Charles the Second, and 
the original letters of Benedict Arnold, written in 
1775 while on his expedition through Maine, 
accompanied by an account of the expedition writ- 
ten by President Allen, of Bowdoin. The volume 
was thus a very valuable contribution, not only to 
local but to American history, and was well received. 

The second volume of the Collections appeared 
in 1847; the third, in 1853; the fourth, in 1856; 
the fifth, in 1857; the sixth, in 1859; the Popham 

13 



Memorial Volume, in 1863; the seventh volume of 
the Collections, in 1876; and the eighth, in 1881. 
I give these volumes in chronological sequence to 
indicate the periods in which there seemed to be 
the most interest in publication, which was in the 
fifties ; while, as we might expect, there was a 
decided falling off in the time of the Civil War 
and the years subsequent to it. 

I confess that I have not read these volumes from 
cover to cover; but even a cursory survey of them 
shows how rich they are in historical material and 
how devoted to real scholarly research were some 
of our predecessors. In the Collections appear 
some of the addresses delivered from time to time 
by the president of the society. One by William 
Willis, given at Augusta, February 21, 1855, gives 
an interesting account of the origins and early his- 
tory of the society, from which I have drawn much 
for this paper. The conclusion, in the somewhat 
stately style of the period, will bear quoting to-day : 
"Maine is moving forward with rapid strides to a 
distinguished station among the orbs of our polit- 
ical constellation. Her extent of territory, her rich 
soil, her long line of seacoast, her large and numer- 
ous rivers, intersecting her whole territory; her 
various valuable and permanent resources, and last 
and best, the indomitable energy, enterprise and 
ingenuity of her children — all give token of sure 
and steady progress to eminence and wealth — not 

14 



to the wealth, I trust, which leads to decay, else 
would I none of it. Let her be true to her high 
destiny ; let her lay broadly and deeply the founda- 
tions of her empire, in general education and a 
faithful administration of civil functions, and a firm 
adherence, in all classes, to probity, temperance and 
good faith, and her prosperity will be as solid and 
enduring as it will be rapid and sure." 

Another address of unusual interest, likewise 
from the pen of William Willis, was given at a 
meeting of the society in Augusta, March 5, 1857. 
This contained biographical notices of the six first 
presidents of the society: Governor Parris, 1822; 
President Allen, 1823-1828; the Rev. Ichabod 
Nichols, 1828-1834; Stephen Longfellow, the father 
of the poet, 1834; Chief Justice Prentiss Mellen, 
1835-1840; and Robert Hallowell Gardiner, 1840- 
1856. These sketches abound in lively anecdote 
and skillful delineation of character and are in 
themselves no mean contribution to the history of 
our state, for after all it is men that make a com- 
monwealth, and an account of these broad-minded 
and sturdy progenitors of this society has all the 
freshness that vivid personality ever brings forth. 

In 1833 appeared the famous history of the state 
of Maine, from its first discovery to the separation 
in 1820, by William D. W^illiamson. He was an 
original member of the society and a most indefati- 
gable historian. Undoubtedly his labors were in- 

15 



spired in no small degree by the earlier publications 
of the society ; they, in turn, awakened an intense 
interest in local history. From 1833 to 1858 no 
less than fifteen valuable historical works were 
published, nearly all of them by members of the 
Historical Society. There was then far more inter- 
est in local history than there is to-day; indeed, it 
is a great pity that the local historian, the man who 
knows all about the traditions and events and prog- 
ress of his home town, is in Maine almost as extinct 
as the dodo. Our society, in this its centennial 
year, could do no more worthy service than to help 
to revive interest in local history, and in particular 
the writing of the history of the last half century. 
To be sure, we have a valuable work in Dr. Louis 
Hatch's "History of Maine" ; but nearly every one of 
our town histories needs a supplement or extension. 
And few seem to care that so much that has hap- 
pened in Maine since 1850 has not been recorded 
and never will be unless more men like the early 
members of this society arise to tell of the past. 

In 1849 the society received from the state the 
grant of half a township, which, sold for $6,000, 
constituted a permanent fund, the income of which 
in those beneficent days was enough to bring out 
a volume of Proceedings and Collections from time 
to time. From 1856 to 1865 William Willis was 
the president of the society, and during his regime, 
as I have shown, there was a good deal of historical 

16 



productivity. In 1863, at the request of the society, 
the state appropriated $400 to procure copies of 
documents in the British Museum relating to the 
early history of Maine. 

In Volume VI of the Collections, published at 
Portland in 1859, there is an extended account of 
the proceedings of the society for that year. Per- 
haps a brief summary will convey something of the 
character of the meetings sixty years ago. The 
first meeting for the year 1859 was held at Augusta, 
January 19th. Several papers on historical themes 
were contributed by Joseph Williamson, Esq., of 
Belfast. In the afternoon, we read, a public meet- 
ing was held at the courthouse, at which a paper 
was read by Judge Pierce, of Gardiner, on the life 
of Major Archelaus Lewis, a Revolutionary hero. 
The president of the society, William Willis, pro- 
duced some original letters of Lafayette, Talley- 
rand, Thomas Paine and other worthies, and then 
read some biographical sketches of deceased mem- 
bers. The Rev. Mr. Ballard, of Brunswick, read a 
valuable paper on the Abnaki Indians, and the Rev. 
Dr. Sheldon, of Bath, read an article on St. George's. 
In the evening President Woods, of Bowdoin, pro- 
nounced a eulogy on the late lamented Parker 
Cleaveland; the Rev. Mr. Ballard read another 
paper on the Abnaki Indians; the president of the 
society closed the meeting by reading a review of a 
volume published by the Hon. George Folsom, of 

17 



New York, on documents relating to Maine found 
in the English state offices. No wonder that the 
secretary recorded that the meeting was not only 
very interesting but protracted. 

Nothing daunted, the society met again in Port- 
land, June 29th. The president delivered eulogies 
on deceased members. The Rev. Mr. Ballard, of 
Brunswick, followed with an account of the history 
of the Episcopal Church in Maine; Mr. Robert 
Hallowell Gardiner read a paper on Benjamin 
Vaughan; the Rev. David Cushman, of Bath, again 
turned up to discuss the disputed locality of Captain 
George Waymouth's voyage ; Mr. John L. Locke, 
of Camden, gave an account of General Waldo's 
proclamation in Germany ; Professor Packard read 
an interesting letter from Albert Gallatin; the pres- 
ident read a paper on the conflicting claims of the 
French and English in Acadia ; Professor Packard, 
with the assistance of John Marshall Brown, then 
an undergraduate in Bowdoin College, exhibited 
specimens and explained and read a paper by Pro- 
fessor Chadbourne about the celebrated deposit of 
oyster shells at Damariscotta. The Hon. Phineas 
Barnes presented a proposal for a union with the 
Portland Natural History Society, a proposition 
which led to an animated discussion. What a relief 
to read: "The afternoon meeting was adjourned to 
the evening, and a social levee of the members was 
held at the mansion of the president." 



18 



In the evening, John A. Poor, Esq., read a paper 
on "English Colonization in America," in which he 
claimed for Sir Ferdinando Gorges the honor of 
English colonization on this continent and disputed 
the claims of the Massachusetts historians in behalf 
of the Pilgrims and Puritans. Rufus K. Sewall, Esq., 
then read an interesting paper on the historical 
remains at Sheepscot and Sagadahoc. The Rev. 
Mr. Ballard again spoke of the Abnaki Indians. 
We are not surprised to read in the official minutes : 
"The society adjourned late in the evening." 

But 1859 is not finished. On August 4th the 
annual meeting was held at Brunswick. Of course 
the committee on the revision of by-laws reported, 
and naturally, after long discussion and amendments 
( /. e., long amendments), they were adopted. At 
eleven o'clock, the society proceeded to the church 
and listened to a profound and interesting discourse 
on the methods and laws of history from the Rev. Dr. 
Hedge, of Brookline, Mass. This learned produc- 
tion, we read, was a fitting and beautiful close of 
the annual transactions of the society, and we agree 
with the scribe that the space of the society was, in 
1859, filled by deeds, not lingering years. In the 
sweet language of Ovid, 

''Actis aevuni implet, non segnibus annis.'''' 

There was surely nothing slow about that year. 

It is perhaps no surprise to the modern reader to 
turn to the next volume, printed in 1876, and to read : 

19 



"The long interval since the last issue of our Col- 
lections has been occasioned by various circum- 
stances." The Civil War was undoubtedly one 
reason ; the deaths of several who were vitally inter- 
ested in the society left vacancies which the younger 
generation did not quickly fill. Nevertheless, dur- 
ing all these years from 1859 to 1876, besides the 
regular annual meetings each year save one, special 
meetings were held at Augusta, Bath and Portland. 
Furthermore, the society went afield and met from 
time to time at Damariscotta, Pemaquid, York and 
Monhegan. Ours is a virtuous society, but it has 
had its cakes and ale. During these years there is 
also some activity to record. In 1859 the office of 
vice-president was instituted, and Bishop Burgess 
elected, continuing therein until his death, in 1866. 
In 1867 the state contracted with the society for an 
annual volume in a series of volumes containing the 
earliest documents, charters and other state papers 
from the archives of foreign countries illustrating 
the history of Maine. Dr. Leonard Woods, who, in 
1866, had resigned the presidency of Bowdoin Col- 
lege after a brilliant administration, was put in 
charge of the work in Europe, and engaged in his- 
orical researches until, in January, 1874, his fine 
library was destroyed by fire, where a large part of 
his books and papers perished. Happily the famous 
Hakluyt manuscript was elsewhere. The Collec- 
tions published in 1859, 1876 and 1881 contain 

20 



many interesting eulogies. It is undoubtedly the 
fashion nowadays to minimize the importance of 
the eulogy, although the two biographical addresses 
lately given by the president of this society have 
been very well received. Biography is, after all, one 
of the most attractive of the handmaidens that 
attend history, and to-day, as with our grandfathers, 
"The proper study of mankind is man." Such 
eulogies as those by President Woods on Parker 
Cleaveland; by Charles Carroll Everett on President 
Woods; and by Robert Hallowell Gardiner on 
Benjamin Vaughan, are works of permanent worth, 
and in themselves justify all the literary activity of 

our society. 

The other day I spent a few hours in going over 
the records of the Maine Historical Society from 
1822 to 1880. It was not at all a wearisome task; 
for on nearly every page there appeared the name 
of someone celebrated in the annals of state or col- 
lege. The annual meetings have been held for the 
most part in Brunswick. The first was on August 
20, 1822, and who knows but that the last may be 
on June 20, 1922? Apparently there was no meet- 
ing in 1826; and there are no records of meetings 
from 1841 to 1846. From 1830 to 1836 the annual 
meetings were held in Portland. Sometimes we are 
discouraged at light attendance and slight interest. 
It is salutary to reflect that some years the society 
could not get enough members to meet at all, and 

21 



that in 1824 the society voted that the collection of 
the annual tax be suspended until further notice. 
In 1836 the secretary, the Rev. Asa Cummings, 
writes : "The hour of meeting having arrived the 
secretary stood alone and continued standing till 
he despaired of being met by any other member of 
the society, when he adjourned the meeting." The 
death of Chief Justice Prentiss Mellen was evidently 
a great blow to the society. He was president 
from 1834 until his death, December 31, 1840; no 
meeting was held until September 2, 1846, when 
Robert Hallowell Gardiner became president. He 
served until 1856; then came William Willis, 1856- 
1864; Edward E. Bourne, 1864-1873; and James 
W. Bradbury, 1874-1889. 

One of the features of the society from 1855 to 
187 1 was a midwinter meeting, held annually with 
the exception of 1866, in Augusta in January or 
February. These meetings seem to have been w^ell 
attended and certainly did much to popularize (if I 
may use that horrid word) the cause of the society 
throughout the state. In 1873 and 1874 such a 
meeting w^as held at Bath, and in 1877 there w^as 
an elegant field day at Wiscasset. In the period 
under review, 1822-1880, only nineteen meetings 
were held in Portland, while sixteen were convened 
in Augusta and fifty-three in Brunswick. That 
those were hardy days is shown by the hour of the 
annual meeting at the college town, 8.00 A. M. ! 

22 



During the early years the collections of books, 
curiosities and objects of historical interest were 
necessarily small. But by 1847 it was necessary to 
provide suitable quarters, and a committee was 
appointed for that purpose. Early in the fifties the 
college assigned a room in back of the chapel for the 
use of the society. In i860, we read that this room 
was fitted up with glass cases and that the books 
had been transferred thither from the college library. 
For some years these quarters seemed, if not com- 
modious, at least adequate. But in 1876 Mr. John 
Marshall Brown, of Portland, offered a resolution to 
remove the collections to Portland. The motion 
had the usual fate of too eager reform and was laid 
on the table, expense being the chief objection 
raised. But the question would not down; and 
after four years of agitation a special meeting was 
held at Brunswick, November 23, 1880, to consider 
a very definite proposition to accept an offer from 
the city government of Portland to occupy a room 
in the City Building. There was an interesting 
debate. Some opposed removal to Portland on the 
ground that it would localize interest in the society ; 
others argued that the incorporators, after delibera- 
tion, fixed on Brunswick, with its college, as the most 
suitable place for it ; "as the literary gentlemen of 
the state were accustomed to repair thither at its 
annual commencement." The resolve to remove 



23 



carried by a vote of i6 yea and 9 nay; and the 
committee of removal consisted of Mr. James 
Phinney Baxter (who had, with our revered presi- 
dent, Dr. Burrage, become a member of the society 
in 1878), General John Marshall Brown and Mr. 
Lewis Pierce. With the appointment of that com- 
mittee this paper properly ends. 

I cannot, however, forbear taxing your patience 
for a brief space more to point out how many things 
of interest are revealed as one looks over the years 
from 1822 to 1880. An historical society is not in 
itself a very exciting body. But unquestionably 
ours has rendered some service to the state. The 
two things that have impressed me most in review- 
ing our history have been the quality of the men 
who have been connected with its destinies, and 
the real amount of good, sound, scholarly work pro- 
duced by men who were not primarily scholars, but 
whose earlier training and devotion to truth gave 
them sound, scholarly instincts. It is true that we 
have not the leisure of our fathers and grandfathers. 
Life grows daily more complex. But we can at 
least envy them if we cannot emulate their excellent 
example. And as we review the struggles of those 
early years and the volumes produced under many 
difificulties it is not altogether reassuring to remem- 
ber that we have published no volume of proceed- 
ings or of documentary collections since 19 16. 



24 



There is excellent reading, even for the amateur, 
in many of those early books ; let us hope that 
our generation may leave to posterity work as 
creditable. 



25 



THE MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 
AT PORTLAND. 

By Hon. Augustus F. Moulton. 



The Maine Historical Society, from the time of 
the granting of its charter in 1822, had close con- 
nection with Bowdoin College. Its official location 
and its collections and library were, during all of its 
earlier years, at Brunswick. The annual meetings 
of the society were almost an integral part of the 
college commencements. It does not appear that 
any effort was made to effect a change until after 
1870. About that time it began to be suggested 
that connection so close with one college was likely 
to arouse jealousy upon the part of the other col- 
leges in the state, whose co-operation was earnestly 
desired, and also that an association whose pur- 
poses were expressly applicable to the whole state 
ought to have an independent home of its own. 
Some of the most active of its members were resi- 
dents of Portland and vicinity, and it was argued 
that a location in that city would be more conven- 
ient for the people of western Maine, and that even 
for the members living in the eastern part of the 

27 



state it would be almost, if not quite, as easy of 
access as the old meeting place at Brunswick. 

The first record of a movement to bring about a 
change appears when, at the annual meeting held 
July 14, 1876, General John Marshall Brown, one 
of the most earnest and active of its members, pre- 
sented a resolution having reference to the removal 
of the society from Brunswick to Portland. The 
proposal met with little favor, and the motion was 
laid on the table. The principal objection made 
was that, because of the society funds being very 
limited, the cost of removal to Portland and of 
obtaining and maintaining quarters in that place 
would be prohibitive. The work done by the soci- 
ety, notwithstanding its lack of means, as shown by 
its records and its publications, had been extraor- 
dinary in importance and shows the remarkable 
self-sacrificing efforts of its associates. 

Some Portland members continued to display 
great interest in the matter. At the annual meet- 
ing of July 12, 1878, the membership was increased 
by the addition of prominent Portland men. A 
special meeting was called and held November 23, 
1880, to consider the matter of removal, and a let- 
ter from Mayor William Senter was then presented, 
stating that he was authorized by the municipal 
ofificers of the city of Portland to offer, in behalf of 
the city, to the Historical Society, for their library, 
their collections and for their meetings, the free use 

28 



of the hall and anteroom in the city building lately 
vacated by the Portland Natural History Society. 
After a full discussion it was decided by a vote of 
sixteen in the affirmative and nine in the negative 
to make the change. It will be noted that this vote 
related only to the Historical Society in general 
terms, without reference to the holding of its annual 
meetings as specified in the charter. That was not 
necessary, since by amendment of the charter in 
1828 the society was authorized to hold the annual 
and other meetings at such time and place as they 
might deem proper. 

James P. Baxter was made chairman of a com- 
mittee appointed to take charge of and supervise 
the business incidental to the change. The matter 
was attended to so promptly and efificiently that 
February 2, 1881, the rooms in the City Building 
were in order, and on that date a special meeting of 
the society was held in the new quarters. A lease 
of the premises was tendered and accepted, and a 
vote of thanks and recognition of the generosity of 
the city was passed. The removal of the tangible 
effects was made complete, and since that time 
Portland has been the general place of occupation 
and business for everything, except that the annual 
meetings have, for the most part, been held at 
Brunswick. 

A public dinner was given at the Falmouth 
Hotel June 10, 1887, in honor of the eighty-iifth 

29 



birthday of Hon. James W. Bradbury, for a long 
time the efificient and devoted president of the 
society. On that occasion it was announced by 
Prof. Henry L. Chapman that Hon. James P. Bax- 
ter was about to make the city of Portland a gift of 
a public library building, and that the plans would 
provide very ample accommodations for the Maine 
Historical Society. At the annual meeting held 
June 2 1, 1887, it was voted that the society accept 
Mr. Baxter's gift of rooms in the library building 
with grateful thanks. The building was in due 
course completed, and on February 22, 1889, the 
first meeting, a special one largely attended, was 
held there in what is now the reference room of the 
library. 

The society continued to occupy the conspicuous 
historical rooms in the public library building for 
three years. The municipal library and its patron- 
age increased rapidly and the need of more space 
grew pressing. The city, in 1892, made a proposi- 
tion to the society to exchange the possession of the 
historical rooms upon the first floor of the building 
for the larger hall and anteroom upon the second 
floor. The terms offered were attractive, and the 
society voted to accept the new quarters and sur- 
render the old, in accordance with the proposi- 
tion submitted. The removal was made under the 
supervision of Philip H. Brown, and for a consider- 
able period this abiding place, named Baxter Hall, 

30 



with lecture room and library, was continued in 
occupation. 

At a meeting held January 25, 1901, Lewis 
Pierce, Esq., was present and made announcement 
that Anne Longfellow Pierce, a sister of Longfellow 
the poet, was desirous to befriend the Historical 
Society by making a gift to it of the old Wadsworth- 
Longfellow homestead on Congress Street, to be 
owned and occupied after her decease as its regular 
and permanent establishment. The place offered 
was itself very valuable. The location was con- 
venient and it was in every way desirable. The 
gift was accepted with much appreciation, and by 
deed of conveyance, dated April 27, 1895, M^^- 
Pierce transferred the property in fee to the society, 
with the reservation that the donor should retain 
for herself the use and occupation of the homestead 
during her lifetime, and that it should thereafter be 
held and maintained for the use of the society and 
as a memorial building. Baxter Hall continued to 
be the headquarters of the association until after 
the decease of Mrs. Pierce, which occurred in 1901. 

The Baxter deed of gift to the city as trustee con- 
tained the provision that the Historical Society 
should have the free use of the quarters furnished 
in the public library building so long as it should 
choose to occupy them, but if it should become pos- 
sessed of and occupy other premises the society 
interest would thereby terminate and the entire 

31 



building rev^ert to the city for library purposes. The 
change of location, therefore, and the acceptance of 
the very attractive proposition of Mrs. Pierce occa- 
sioned the complete sacrifice of the previous bene- 
faction of Mr. Baxter and compelled the assumption 
of new and important responsibilities connected 
with the care and ownership of an independent sit- 
uation of its own. For these reasons it is not sur- 
prising that the donation, while it was accepted 
with hearty appreciation, gave rise to misgivings 
upon the part of some as to the ability of the society 
to carry on successfully in its amplified field of 
endeavor. 

The decision having been made and the time for 
action having arrived, the practical part of the busi- 
ness became a matter for serious consideration. 
The Anne Longfellow Pierce homestead and lot, so 
generously bestowed, consisted of land with frontage 
of 66^ feet on Congress Street and 255 feet in depth, 
containing 16,093 square feet. The assessed value 
of the property in 1901 was ^23,700.00, but its 
actual worth was considerably more. The Long- 
fellow family restored the interior of the mansion at 
their own expense and under their own supervision, 
and furnished funds for renovation and repair of the 
exterior. The house has proved to be a veritable 
Mecca to those who love the memory of Longfellow 
and appreciate his writings. Thousands of people 
from all parts of the world have visited and enjoyed 

32 



the home of the poet's youth, with its quaint old- 
time furnishings and attractive associations. 

The erection of the hbrary building in which we 
have met to-day was no small undertaking. A large 
committee was appointed and subscription papers 
were circulated, both in this vicinity and abroad. 
The response was generous. Substantial contribu- 
tions were made in Maine and from distant places. 
Ladies gave entertainments, enthusiasm of practical 
character was manifested, and the effort to raise 
funds met with large success. 

The financial part of the undertaking having 
reached a point where it was deemed safe to pro- 
ceed, the work itself was undertaken. Alexander 
W. Longfellow, a nephew of the poet, was selected 
as supervising architect, with Francis H. Fassett as 
assistant, and together they made the plans for the 
handsome building, so finely proportioned and spe- 
cially adapted for the purposes of the society, as we 
now behold it. The structure is two stories in 
height, with commodious basement. The whole 
construction is of most approved fireproof quality, 
with bookcases of metal. There are three series of 
bookstacks, one rising above the other, and having 
capacity for holding 30,000 volumes. The large 
room on the first floor gives space for the display of 
articles of historic interest, as well as ample room 
and accommodations for visitors. Directly off the 
library room is a spacious and most secure vault for 

33 



holding objects of special value. The main hall and 
ante room on the second floor are conveniently 
adapted for general meetings. 

The total cost of the building, as appears by the 
record, was $38,201.18, this being exclusive of ex- 
penditures upon the mansion. Of this amount 
$16,682.42 was raised by subscriptions, $6,518.76 
from income of the house and $15,000.00 by a cash 
loan secured upon the premises, the larger part of 
which, it must be said with regret, still remains 
unpaid. The Wadsworth-Longfellow mansion itself, 
it will be noted, is not only of great antiquarian 
value, being the first house built wholly of brick in 
Portland, but has been from the first, and still is, a 
substantial source of revenue. With much of anx- 
ious effort the new fireproof library building was at 
length completed, the Longfellow residence reno- 
vated and restored without and within, and the 
library and other properties arranged in the new 
places. For this work special credit should be given 
to Fritz H. Jordan, Henry Deering and Rev. John 
Carroll Perkins. The labor of loyalty and love 
having been accomplished, the library and home- 
stead were, on the one hundredth anniversary of the 
birth of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, February 
27, 1907, formally dedicated, with appropriate cere- 
monies, as the permanent, commodious and attract- 
ive home of the Maine Historical Society. 

The physical location consequent upon the re- 

34 



moval to Portland was a matter of great importance, 
but the real work, the work for which the society 
was organized, was of larger import and had not 
been neglected. Soon after the change of location, 
the membership, which had been limited to one 
hundred, was increased to two hundred, and this 
limitation was subsequently further increased to four 
hundred. Upon the decease of Hon. James W. 
Bradbury, James P. Baxter, June 25, 1889, became 
president and occupied that ofifice continuously for 
twenty-two years, until his late and lamented decease. 
The growth of the society Collections and publi- 
cations since the time of the removal in 1880 has 
been creditable. At that time the publications 
consisted of eight printed volumes of Collections, 
meaning literary contributions and records, to which 
should be added the memorial volume of the Pop- 
ham celebration of 1863, not included in its Collec- 
tions. The society library, when transferred to 
Portland, contained by estimate 1 1,000 bound vol- 
umes and a very numerous assortment of pamphlets, 
documents and other accumulated historical data 
not in book form. It had also a large number of 
curios and relics. Since the removal, fourteen vol- 
umes of Collections have been printed. Besides 
these, the society has been sponsor for twenty-four 
volumes of Documentary History. The last named 
volumes consist of a compilation of royal charters 
and patents relating to Maine issued by the early 

35 



officials holding authority from king and council, 
French and English, together with parliamentary 
acts and other documents, comprising nearly all of 
the official papers relating to the early settlements 
and later colonial history of Maine. This invaluable 
collection was arranged under the immediate super- 
vision of President Baxter and printed by the state. 
The present library of the society comprises 27,368 
bound volumes and a very great accumulation of 
pamphlets and rare documents, of number estimated 
to be equal to the bound volumes. Besides these 
literary productions there are arranged and displayed 
in the library rooms an assortment of portraits, 
relics and articles of colonial and historical associa- 
tion not surpassed by those of any other similar 
organization. 

The classification and numbering of the printed 
volumes of the society publications is somewhat 
confusing. The method adopted has been that of 
the Massachusetts society, by which books are num- 
bered by series, each series comprising ten volumes. 
There are series of Collections and also series of 
Documentary History. Of the Collections there 
are ten of the first series, ten of the second series 
and two of the third series, twenty-two in all. The 
Documentary histories are numbered both by series 
and by consecutive numbers. These, for some rea- 
son unexplained, begin with series two and com- 
prise, as has been said, twenty-four volumes. Some 

36 



of the Documentary volumes include copies of legal 
documents and historical papers as well. Besides 
these books there are printed pamphlets of the soci- 
ety containing full accounts of the exercises and 
papers relating to celebrations of particular events. 
It is difificult, therefore, to state the precise number 
of printed issues actually put out. Besides these 
there are manuscripts, some bound and some not in 
binding. The society has large collections of news- 
papers, such as fifty-seven volumes (183 1 to 1859) 
of the Portland Advertiser, a complete set (1837 
to 1 901) of the Portland Transcript, and others, 
besides its great assortment of pamphlets, local his- 
tories and public and private records. The expense 
of printing the Documentary series has been, for 
the most part, contributed by the state, the edito- 
rial work being done under the supervision of the 
society. 

Among the notable publications are the Trelawny 
papers (Vol. Ill of Documentary History), which 
contain the correspondence and business papers of 
Robert Trelawny, who had an early grant on the 
Spurwink River in Cape Elizabeth and Richmond 
Island and attempted to enforce also a claim to 
Machegonne, the peninsula on which Portland was 
founded by George Cleeve. These papers were 
obtained from England by John Wingate Thornton, 
and arranged and annotated partly by him and 
partly, after his decease, by Mr. Baxter. These 

37 



relate to the Trelawny occupation within the earUer 
concession of the Province of Lygonia, which prov- 
ince comprised most of western Maine, and was 
estabhshed a second time by the Enghsh parUa- 
mentary confiscation of the greater part of Sir 
Ferdinando Gorges' Palatinate, and came to an end 
with the restoration of the English king. The 
editorial notes and references are even more inform- 
ing than the text. 

In the Documentary History series are the Farn- 
ham Papers (second series. Vols. VII and VIII), 
being a collection of documents relating to the ter- 
ritorial history of Maine, a work of immense original 
research made by Mary Frances Farnham, of the 
Oregon Historical Society and the American His- 
torical Society. This collection was presented by 
Miss Farnham and published by the society, aided 
by appropriation from the state. It includes prac- 
tically all important public acts and documents 
relating to Maine from 1603 to 1871. 

Two large volumes by Joseph Williamson, 1896, 
give a bibliography of Maine, the purpose of which 
is stated to be, "To give the full title of every book, 
pamphlet and reputable magazine article having 
reference to Maine and also all those of which the 
authors were resident within the state." These were 
printed under the auspices of the society. Mr. 
Williamson contributed also his extensive Scrap 



38 



Book, in which are rescued from oblivion many con- 
tributions to current periodicals. 

Four manuscript volumes now in the library con- 
tain the York Court records, a transcript of an 
ofificial copy made by the state and kept in the ofifice 
of the secretary of state in Augusta. These are of 
more than local interest, for from the time when the 
province first came under the jurisdiction of Massa- 
chusetts until 1760, Yorkshire embraced the whole 
Province of Maine. 

There are preserved in the vault the William 
Willis papers and manuscripts, being the assembled 
collections made by him during a long life devoted 
to extended research. Much of this material was 
used by Willis in his published works, and other 
parts of it will be of assistance to some future 
historian. 

The Maine Wills, consisting of an exact copy of 
all wills appearing in the York Court records from 
the earliest in 1640, were compiled with particular 
exactness by William M. Sargent, Esq., under the 
auspices of the society, authorized and assisted finan- 
cially under resolve of the state in 1887. These 
include all Maine wills from 1640 to 1760, four 
hundred and seventy-one in number. 

The eighteen volumes of York Deeds consist of 
copies of deeds found in the records of York County 
from the earliest in 1640, when the government of 
the Province of Maine was organized under the 

39 



Gorges charter. The first was compiled by John 
T. Hull under the oversight of Hobart W. Richard- 
son, the text being copied by William M. Sargent, 
Esq. This publication was made under resolve of 
the state in 1883, authorizing, with an appropriation, 
the superintendence of the work by the Maine His- 
torical Society. The compilation of nearly all of the 
subsequent volumes, after the decease of Mr. Hull 
and Mr. Sargent, was done by Leonard B. Chap- 
man. The introduction in the first volume, by 
Hobart W. Richardson, gives an account of the 
source of land titles in Maine with thoroughness 
and completeness that could hardly be surpassed 
and leaves little to be desired. This series ends 
with printed volume eighteen, published in 19 10, 
and should be completed so as to bring the record 
to 1760, when the county of York was divided into 
the three counties, York, Cumberland and Lmcoln. 

The Barclay papers and the Ward Chipman 
papers, in manuscript, give particulars of the dispute 
over the northeastern boundary of Maine more 
fully than can be found elsewhere. 

The extensive and valuable library of the Maine 
branch of the Loyal Legion of the United States 
has been presented and forms a valuable part of 
the library. 

The society has also the Baxter Manuscripts, 
being a bound set of hand-written copies, English, 
French and American, obtained by Hon. James P. 

40 



Baxter. Nearly all of these have been put into 
printed form by the state and are included in the 
Documentary series referred to. 

There is also a life of General Henry Dearborn 
by his son, Henry A. S. Dearborn, in seven volumes 
of manuscript. This work is not a biography alone, 
but comprises a wide historical range. It is inter- 
esting, both for its literary value and also for the 
rare and artistic character of the writing and illu- 
minated pen work. 

These references to unpublished compilations 
comprise a part only of the more important ones, 
taken to some extent at random. Many of the 
published accounts of anniversary celebrations and 
dedicatory exercises, which include the memorial 
volume of Henry W. Longfellow's seventy-fifth 
birthday (1882), the "Tercentenary of the Voyage 
of Martin Pring" (1903), the "Tercentenary of De 
Monts Settlement at St. Croix Island" (1904), the 
"Tercentenary of Waymouth's Landing" (1905), 
the "Tercentenary of the Beginning of the Popham 
Colony" (1907) and that of the dedication of the 
monument commemorating the Maine soldiers at 
Valley Forge (1907), are noteworthy and deserve 
extended notice. The Longfellow case, presented 
by Alexander W. Longfellow, and containing a 
classified and systematically arranged mass of liter- 
ary material relating to aviation and naval history 
during the world war, forms, of itself, a remarkable 

41 



collection and should be examined rather than 
described. 

Among the relics and exhibits found in the rooms 
of the library building the Fogg collection of auto- 
graphs stands pre-eminent. This collection was 
made by Dr. John S. H. Fogg and bequeathed by 
him in his will to the society. Dr. Fogg was a 
graduate of Bowdoin College, class of 1846, and 
also of the Medical School. These comprise fifty- 
nine bound manuscript volumes and represent years 
of research and effort. Among the autographs are 
those of Ferdinand and Isabella, 1492 ; of Queen 
Elizabeth, 1591 ; of all the colonial governors, all 
the signers of the Declaration of Independence, of 
the presidents of the United States and of others, 
foreign and American, too numerous even for sug- 
gestion in brief reference. This collection was 
appraised by an expert, in the inventory of Dr. 
Fogg's estate, at the selling value of ^25,000, which 
appraisal was probably far below the actual value. 
It came into the possession of the society in 1907, 
and is one of the best, if not the very best, in the 
United States. 

Other noted and invaluable relics which chiefly 
attract the attention of visitors are the strong box 
of Father Rale, taken at the capture of Norridge- 
wock in 1724, and the bell of his chapel, which 
was later discovered in its hiding place near by. 
There may be seen also the baptismal font used by 

42 



Rev. Robert Jordan, the Episcopal clergyman very 
prominent at the time of the second settlement of 
Portland and before; the clock of Governor John 
Hancock, of Revolutionary fame ; the General 
Henry Dearborn relics, and especially the bust of 
Henry W. Longfellow, which is a replica of that in 
Westminster Abbey and was presented to the 
society by the London executive committee of the 
English Longfellow Memorial fund. These remark- 
able curios and attractions cannot be enumerated 
at length and are worthy of extended examination. 

The founders and supporters of the society prior 
to the removal to Portland receive appreciative 
notice in the address of President Sills. The wor- 
thy scholars and gentlemen who then composed the 
membership continued their activities afterward. 
It is an invidious and impossible task to attempt to 
enumerate or to make to any full extent special 
mention of all those who have contributed and still 
contribute to its welfare in the later days. It seems, 
however, appropriate to name a few of the promi- 
nent ones w^io have served in various ways, neces- 
sarily omitting mention of others quite as worthy. 

Senator James Ware Bradbury was at all times a 
staunch and faithful supporter and advocate. He 
was a typical gentleman of the old courteous school. 
A graduate of Bowdoin in the famous class of 1825, 
having for classmates Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry 
W. Longfellow and John S. C. Abbot, and for fifty- 

43 



one years a member of the official boards of the col- 
lege, serving also in the high position of United States 
Senator from Maine, he was both a zealous promoter 
of historical research and a whole-hearted worker in 
behalf of the society. From 1874 to 1890 he filled 
with distinguished ability the office of president. 
Although he did not favor the removal, his loyal 
and helpful assistance in all ways continued, and in 
his will he left to it a substantial token of remem- 
brance. 

Hon. James Phinney Baxter became president in 
1889, as successor to Mr. Bradbury, and continued 
in the presidential office until the time of his decease, 
in 192 1. Mr. Baxter was a gentleman of ability and 
dignified courtesy, and presided at its functions to 
general acceptance. Although a man of extensive 
business affairs, he devoted much time to historical 
research and historical writing. He was not only 
president of this society, but was likewise president 
of the New England Historic Genealogical Society 
from 1899, and was a member of other historical 
and literary associations. The public library build- 
ing, in which our society had its home for some 
years, was a gift from Mr. Baxter to the city of 
Portland as trustee. In the field of historical inves- 
tigation Mr. Baxter had few equals, and his edito- 
rial and original work appears in many of our soci- 
ety publications. His most prominent work, per- 
haps, "Ferdinando Gorges and His Province of 

44 



Maine," in three volumes, a production involving 
wide research in America and England, was pub- 
lished by the Prince Society, a distinguished pri- 
vate association in Boston. His "George Cleeve of 
Casco Bay," a book of equal merit, together with 
"The Voyage of Capt. Christopher Levett," anno- 
tated by him, appear among the publications of the 
Gorges Society, a private and select organization in 
Portland. He assembled at his own expense the 
papers referred to as the Baxter Manuscripts, which 
make nineteen of the twenty-four volumes of Docu- 
mentary History of Maine, published by the state 
under the auspices of this society. Mr. Baxter's 
taste for history was his literary specialty. His own 
private historical library, lately disposed of by auc- 
tion sale, was one of the finest aggregations in the 
whole country. Mr. Baxter's long occupation of 
the highest ofifice in the society's gift, and his own 
accomplishments, long identified his name with that 
of the Maine Historical Society. 

Rev. Henry Sweetser Burrage, D. D., a graduate 
of Brown University, and also state historian of 
Maine, is now the society president. He became 
vice-president in 19 15, after the decease of Pro- 
fessor Henry L. Chapman and two years of incum- 
bency by Professor George T. Files, and has long 
been one of the pillars of the organization and one 
of the chief contributors to its advancement. It 
is no disparagement to anyone to say that in exec- 

45 



utive matters he has long been the most efficient 
member. Notwithstanding the pressing require- 
ments of professional and editorial life, and the con- 
stant performance of other literary work, he has 
found time to keep a steady oversight of the soci- 
ety's affairs. His papers, addresses and writings, as 
appears by the records, have been extraordinary in 
number and quality. His books as state historian, 
"Beginnings of Colonial Maine" and "The North- 
eastern Boundary Controversy," are w^orks of fine 
character and interest, and of lasting value. Dr. 
Burrage unquestionably ranks with the very first of 
those who have established the reputation and high 
quality of this great public utility. 

Rev. Henry O. Thayer, one of the earlier mem- 
bers, has done notable work. He has been the 
author of numerous papers and pamphlets showing 
patient investigation and singular accuracy. Among 
some of the more important are, "The Beginnings 
of Pemaquid," papers concerning various Kennebec 
localities, "Early Ministry on the Kennebec," "The 
Indian Administration of Justice," and especially his 
valuable volume entitled "The Sagadahoc Colony," 
published by the Gorges Society in 1892. 

No man in the whole career of the society did for 
it more disinterested and efficient service than Fritz 
H. Jordan, for many years its treasurer and chief 
financial manager. He was a man of capacity, 
sound judgment and lofty ideals regarding public 

46 



matters. Freely, and without thought of compen- 
sation, except such as comes from the sense of duty 
well performed, he gave to the society's affairs just 
as careful attention as he applied to his own large 
business operations. His tastes were artistic and 
soundly practical. In the erection and equipment 
of the new library building, and in its after-develop- 
ment, he was principal adviser and overseer. Per- 
sonally he was most attractive — a modest gentle- 
man of the highest type and of character unexcelled. 
The society to-day is indebted to him almost for its 
existence. By his will he bequeathed to it the 
largest financial legacy that it has received, but 
his personality and inspiring example are his best 
memorial. 

Hubbard W. Bryant was for a long time secretary 
of the society and an indefatigable helper. He was 
an official of the J. B. Brown Banking Company, 
and devoted a large part of his time outside of his 
business engagements to work in behalf of the soci- 
ety. Although his activities were not of a showy 
kind, they were unselfishly bestowed and were bene- 
ficial in many ways. 

The Goolds, William Goold and Nathan Goold, 
were most valuable members. William Goold, the 
father, was an authority in historical matters, as is 
shown by his book, "Portland in the Past." Nathan 
Goold, the son, became secretary in 19 14 as suc- 
cessor of Hubbard W. Bryant. He made his head- 

47 



quarters at the library and was author of many 
papers and pamphlets. He kept in touch with the 
needs of the library and of the mansion, and the 
oversight of the two occupied most of his time. 
Nathan Goold was a walking encyclopedia of infor- 
mation, and it is unfortunate that he did not commit 
more of his historical and genealogical knowledge 
to writing. 

Among others, Henry Deering, a man of exqui- 
site taste and constant interest; Charles E. Allen, 
a man familiar with the byways of antiquarian 
research ; John Francis Sprague, historian and edi- 
tor; Leonard B. Chapman, industrious and persist- 
ent ; George C. Owen, compiler of a reference 
index that will perpetuate his name ; Alexander W. 
Longfellow, architect of the library building and 
contributor of the Alexander W. Longfellow collec- 
tions, are deserving of more particular mention than 
can be given in this brief sketch. 

Although the accomplishments of the society in 
the last thirty-three years have been important, it 
has all the time been seriously hampered by finan- 
cial limitations. Such invested funds as it has are 
for the most part made applicable by conditions 
imposed by the donors to certain special purposes. 
The demand for interest payments upon the unpaid 
portion of the funded debt has, of course, been 
imperative. It is pleasant to mention that the new 
treasurer, Walter G. Davis, has initiated a campaign 

48 



for contributions which bids fair to wipe out com- 
pletely this long standing incubus of mortgage. 
The principal monetary gifts received have been 
those from the trustees of the Joseph Walker estate, 
the Thomas B. Reed monument committee, and the 
recent bequest from Fritz H. Jordan. 

The dearth of working income has made neces- 
sary the omission for quite a long time of publica- 
tions in its series of historical papers. The last 
volume of published collections is Volume II of 
Series III, put out in 1906. Meetings have been 
held and the reading of papers kept up, due very 
much to the persistent energy of Dr. Burrage. No 
period has produced papers of greater interest. 
Copies for publication have been regularly requested, 
and considerable matter of consequence is now on 
hand available for printing. Considerable also, it 
must be said with regret, has not been so left, 
because the authors were aware that such material 
could only be kept on the file for indefinite custody. 
There are few places where an endowment would 
be productive of more lasting good than here. 

The society furnishes and keeps constantly open 
a free public library, which is consulted daily by 
students and interested parties from far and near. 
Besides its books upon historical topics, it has many 
useful reference works, and also a large and fine 
genealogical collection, giving the descent of many 
families. It has also a rare assortment of town and 

49 



local histories and scrap-book collections relating 
to current events, such as can be found nowhere 
else. Young people from the public schools, among 
others, make constant use of the library books and 
material. The Wadsworth-Longfellow mansion is 
more than self-sustaining, due very much to kindly 
volunteer assistance, and the surplus there obtained 
goes to help out the other slender income. Men- 
tion is particularly due to the efficient and courte- 
ous attendants. Miss Evelyn L. Gilmore and Miss 
Ethel T. Hall, who have the immediate and general 
charge of the properties. Their expert knowledge 
and valuable assistance are freely given, and are, in 
fact, indispensable, since the library has no available 
itemized list of its almost innumerable collections 
of books, documents and manuscripts, printed and 
unprinted, and its great assortment of articles kept 
for observations and instruction. 

The record of the accomplishments of the Maine 
Historical Society from the foundation to the pres- 
ent time is impressive. It is, in principal perspec- 
tive, a tale of individual initiative and loyal earnest- 
ness for public service. The work has been done 
with painfully stinted means, and perhaps, unfortu- 
nately, it has been wrought with such modesty and 
absence of ostentation that the general public have 
but little knowledge of the contents of its treasure 
house, or of the unrequited labors of those who have 
assembled here so much of the record of past human 

50 



experience for its present helpful value and for its 
permanent use in illuminating the path of future 
progress. 



51 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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